MADISON, Wis. — More than 140 high school juniors from around Wisconsin attended Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s FFA Farm Forum in Wisconsin Rapids on Feb. 18.
“FFA Farm Forum is a time for learning and leadership,” said WFBF President Kevin Krentz. “Thank you for being a part of FFA Farm Forum and for honing in on your leadership skills, learning more and investing in yourself.”
The keynote speaker was Kaitlyn Riley, Director of Communications and Outreach with the Wisconsin Beef Council. Riley explored new ways to put the success of agriculture on center stage one voice at a time as advocates.
During the one-day event at Hotel Mead, FFA members attended career-based workshops including: ‘Meat’ Your Future in Wisconsin with Kaitlyn Riley and Matt Bayer, master meat crafter; Basics of Risk Management and Why It Matters with Mike North of ever.ag; Welcome to Jeopardy: Rural and Agricultural Edition with Melissa Ploeckelman of the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety; and A Day in the Life on a Potato Farm with Mike Leahy, Lynn Leahy and Tom Schultz of Heartland Farms, Inc.
“FFA Farm Forum is a great partnership between Wisconsin Farm Bureau and Wisconsin FFA to encourage leadership development and exploration of careers in agriculture,” said WFBF Director of Member Relations Mandy Ganser. “We were excited to host this conference for future agricultural leaders who have a passion for agriculture and a desire to learn.”
The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Foundation sponsors FFA Farm Forum in cooperation with the Wisconsin Association of FFA. After holding the event virtually in 2021, this year’s FFA Farm Forum marks the 49th time the event has been hosted in person for Wisconsin youth.
— Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation
